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Pekka Tarkka

Pekka Sakari Tarkka
Born December 4, 1934, Helsinki

MA 1964 (Aesthetics and Contemporary Literature), PhD 1978 (Finnish Literature), University of Helsinki

Literary journalist and critic at  Helsingin Sanomat 1958–1961, 1969–79, 1989–99, and  Uusi Suomi newspaper 1961–67
Assistant Arts Editor at Helsingin Sanomat  1979–84, Arts Editor 1984–89
Assistant in Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki 1969–76, docent 1978–85
Lecturer, Finnish Literature, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London 1980–81

Awards
State Prize for Art 2010
Finland Prize 1996
Tatu Vaaskivi Award 1978
State Translator Prize 1973

Photo: Hanna Tarkka
Written by Pekka Tarkka (Tomas Sjöblom, ed.)
Translated by Joe McVeigh

The Magic of Printing Ink

When I was a small boy growing up in Tampere, I helped my father by delivering short news items to the editorial offices of the newspapers Aamulehti and Kansan Lehti. The smell of printing ink in the publishing houses was so decisive that it determined the course of my future career.

In the 1970s I had to choose between a university or newspaper career. I had worked as a literary editor and critic for newspapers as a student, and later on I was briefly an assistant at the department of Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki. I completed a doctoral dissertation and I enjoyed teaching.

Pekka Tarkka’s post-doctoral party in 1977. Those pictured are Paavo Haavikko, Ritva Haavikko, Marja Niiniluoto, Tuukka Kangasluoma, Markku Valkonen, Keijo Kylävaara, Arvo Turtiainen and Pekka Tarkka. Photo from Pekka Tarkka’s home archive.

Newspaper or university? The scent of the printing ink decided it. I became Arts Editor at Helsingin Sanomat.

The air in the publishing houses is no longer fragrant with printing ink; more and more articles are intended for online publication. Perhaps I would no longer like it there.

My forty-year career at the paper has secured me a pension, the best study grant I have received in my life. I have managed to complete comprehensive biographies on Joel Lehtonen and Pentti Saarikoski, two authors close to my heart.

Pekka Tarkka as Arts Editor at Helsingin Sanomat in 1984. Computers had already entered the picture, but the typewriter is still ready, just in case.

 

By

Pekka Tarkka

Pekka Sakari Tarkka
Born December 4, 1934, Helsinki

MA 1964 (Aesthetics and Contemporary Literature), PhD 1978 (Finnish Literature), University of Helsinki

Literary journalist and critic at  Helsingin Sanomat 1958–1961, 1969–79, 1989–99, and  Uusi Suomi newspaper 1961–67
Assistant Arts Editor at Helsingin Sanomat  1979–84, Arts Editor 1984–89
Assistant in Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki 1969–76, docent 1978–85
Lecturer, Finnish Literature, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London 1980–81

Awards
State Prize for Art 2010
Finland Prize 1996
Tatu Vaaskivi Award 1978
State Translator Prize 1973

Photo: Hanna Tarkka
Written by Pekka Tarkka (Tomas Sjöblom, ed.)
Translated by Joe McVeigh

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